The Public Prosecution Service prosecuted fourteen suspects for their involvement in the riots at Malieveld in The Hague last Saturday. They appeared before the rapid court, where they faced sentences of up to 3 months in prison.
The suspects, aged 16 to 60, came from all over the country. According to the Public Prosecution Service, each contributed to the riots and committed acts of public violence. Some suspects threw stones or beer cans at police buses, kicked buses, smashed mirrors, or hit with flagpoles.
The police had to deploy four platoons of mobile units, two water cannons, mounted police, and tear gas grenades, the prosecutors outlined the situation at Malieveld. Officers feared for their own safety and felt almost compelled to use their firearms. Fortunately, due to the use of tear gas, this did not happen, but the police in The Hague have never had to respond so heavily before.
Others hindered in their constitutional right
The Public Prosecution Service considers the violence used to be very serious. The rioters committed violence surrounding a demonstration. Because the safety of peaceful demonstrators could no longer be guaranteed, this demonstration had to be ended. Thus, other citizens were hindered in their constitutional right to demonstrate. Therefore, the Public Prosecution Service sees reason for an unconditional prison sentence as a starting point.
The final sentence demand depended on other factors. For example, the criminal record of the suspects or the use of a balaclava. There were also those who, in addition to public violence, were guilty of incitement or possession of pepper spray.
Sentencing demands and penalties
The Public Prosecution Service demanded prison sentences ranging from three weeks to three months, with a conditional part. One of the conditions would have to be that the suspects must transfer a contribution of 1500 euros to the Fund for Victims of Violent Crimes, as compensation for the damage caused during the riots.
The court made immediate rulings in all cases. In most cases, a community service was imposed in combination with a conditional prison sentence, but prison sentences were also imposed. In one case, the Public Prosecution Service demanded an acquittal, and the court acquitted that suspect as well. For more information, see the press release from the court.
Minors
Three of the suspects were minors. They had to appear in a closed session before the juvenile judge. In juvenile law, special attention is paid to the educational effect that sentences should have.
The Public Prosecution Service demanded community service in two cases, of 80 and 60 hours. The court imposed a community service of 50 hours in the first case and a learning penalty of 20 hours and 10 days of conditional youth detention in the second. In a third case, the suspect did not agree to rapid court proceedings, as further investigation was needed. That case has been postponed, and the suspect may await the hearing in freedom.
Progress of the investigation
The investigation into the riots at Malieveld continues unabated. Six suspects are still in custody and were presented today to the examining magistrate. He has extended their pre-trial detention by fourteen days. The Public Prosecution Service intends to bring them to court within those two weeks as soon as the investigation into their cases is completed. A seventh suspect who was to be presented today has been released by the Public Prosecution Service but remains a suspect.
Additionally, efforts will be made to identify and track down other perpetrators of violence. On Tuesday evening, the case will first be highlighted in Opsporing Verzocht.
